Species Pseudosphinx tetrio - Tetrio Sphinx - Hodges#7830

Classification · Hodges Number · Other Common Names · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Found on St. Thomas, USVI - Pseudosphinx tetrio

huge fleshy caterpillar - Pseudosphinx tetrio

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

No Taxon (Moths)

Superfamily Bombycoidea

Family Sphingidae (Sphinx Moths)

Subfamily Macroglossinae

Tribe Dilophonotini

Genus Pseudosphinx

Species tetrio (Tetrio Sphinx - Hodges#7830)

Hodges Number

7830

Other Common Names

Frangipani caterpillar, The Giant Gray Sphinx.

Size

5 - 5 1/2 inches (12.7 - 14 cm) wingspan (2)

Identification

The larva of this hawkmoth has a long thread-like anal horn. It is very strikingly colored, the body being purplish black, girdled with yellow rings between the segments, and the head and anal claspers being bright red, of the color of sealing wax.(1)

Range

The insect occurs not uncommonly in southern Florida.(1)

Food

It feeds upon various Euphorbiaceous plants, preferably Plumeria.(1)

Print References

Holland (1)

Internet References

Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (2)

Works Cited

1.	The Moth Book By W. J. Holland

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Matthew Roth
Last updated 1 November, 2005 - 8:23pm

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